Ministries - Rite Of Christian Initiation Of Adults - The History

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RCIA Co-ordinator - Michelle Davis

THE History Of The Rite of Christian Initiation and The RCIA PROGRAM

1st ­ 3rd Centuries

3 essential Elements of Preparation Time
1. Two pre ­requisites:
a. Faith in Christ
b. Conversion of Life
Confirmed by witness and their testimonies (sponsors)
2. The formation of catechumens took place through the explanation of the word of God and it was the task of the community, the community frequently gathered in prayer and meditation (reflection on the Word of God in scripture).
3. Sacramental Initiation of catechumens took place over a period of time and within the community celebration.

Much of today's Rite and process is taken from this time and process. The preparation for baptism was a journey marked by two thresholds:
1. Admission to the Catechumenate, which presupposed a general conversion; accompanied by a willingness to conform to the Christian way of life.
2. Admission to Baptism, this happened after close examination of the catechumens' lifestyle and behavior, this relied on testimonies from witnesses. Great importance was also placed on the periods of formation that prepared the Candidate.
3. Study of central aspects of faith and some experience of Christian Life. They spent an average of 3 years being formed in the Christian Life. (Remember, during this period Christians were being persecuted for their faith)

4th- 5th Centuries

The church first experienced tolerance and then freedom. This period saw a deterioration of the Catechumenate. Many put off being baptised. The church's response to this was to introduce a new Catechumenate during the season of Lent ­ a period of intense and serious catechesis. This short period was insufficient and so a practice of MYSTAGOGICAL (explanation ­ reflecting on the mysteries) catechesis was introduced during the Easter Season.
As the time and preparation was so short and not long enough for serious formation and real moral conversion, from the 5th century the Catechumenate gradually disappeared.

5th ­ 15th Centuries

Many Historians put the demise of the catechumenate down to the practice of infant baptism. Also in missionary countries, the sheer numbers of adult converts and the insistence of the Popes that Baptism be celebrated only on the feasts of Easter and Pentecost.

16th ­ 19th Centuries

Saw the re-emergence of the Catechumenate. In Latin America Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian orders tried to have a Catechumenate of 40 days that included fasting, catechesis, exorcisms and Scrutinies. This was to counteract mass baptisms of huge numbers with little or no preparation but this practice was not taken up into general practice.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, in India established Catechumenal houses in which catechumenates gathered for 3 months baptismal preparation.

During the 17th & 18th centuries the Catechumenate did not get off the ground, it was not until Cardinal Lavigerie (in Africa) in the late 18th century do we see a vigorous attempt to restore the traditional catechumenal discipline. His teaching had 2 key elements:
1. Preparation carried out in stages ­ each stage marked a new step. The preparation took place over a period of time in order that there be assurance of perseverance in the Christian way of life by the neophyte (new Christian)
2. From these elements he established a period of Postulancy (2yrs) followed by a period of Catechumenate (2yrs) and finally a major baptismal retreat. These developments still lacked a proper liturgical dimension.

20th Century

Vatican 11 and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

In April 1962 ­ a decree was published restoring Baptism in stages. This restoration comprised of several distinct steps.
In 1969 a second draft was formulated and in January 1972 the RCIA was formed and promulgated. In 1987 it was revised.

 

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